Prop Performance in Contemporary Canadian Video Art

AI Tool(s) Used

• Runway for video editing and animation
• MidJourney for prop design inspiration and visualization

Description of Result

This piece is a collaborative video art installation blending prop performance with contemporary visual aesthetics, curated by Canadian artists. It was created using mostly materials from home, turning everyday objects into dynamic props through AI-enhanced visuals. The final result combines playful and camp elements with a DIY ethos, showcasing an experimental approach to video art. AI tools helped refine the performance visuals and transform raw footage into a surreal, captivating display.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Conceptualization: The project begins with a collaboration between the artist and the ensemble, conceptualizing a performance that combines props found at home with surreal visual effects.
2. Prop Design (MidJourney): MidJourney was used to brainstorm creative prop ideas, generating visual references for how everyday objects could be transformed into performance tools.
3. Performance Recording: The prop performance was filmed at home, emphasizing a DIY, camp aesthetic. The performance plays with exaggerated movements, colorful props, and humorous gestures.
4. AI Video Editing (Runway): Runway was used to edit the footage, enhancing it with animations, color grading, and soft transitions. The AI tool was integral in adding surreal elements to the recorded performance, such as distorting space or creating flowing movements for inanimate props.
5. Installation Adaptation: The video was adapted into an installation piece, sharing the space with other contemporary Canadian video artists.

Tips & Tricks

• Don’t be afraid to incorporate everyday objects into your creative projects—AI tools like MidJourney can help transform simple ideas into fully realized visual concepts.
• When working with performance art, using AI in post-production can help elevate the footage with added layers of surrealism and abstraction.
• Experiment with Runway’s animation features to create smooth transitions between real and altered footage, especially in performance-based videos where movement is key.

Annotation

This installation project exemplifies how AI can be used to transform a DIY project into an avant-garde performance piece. By using materials already available at home, the creators emphasize resourcefulness and creativity, while AI tools like Runway and MidJourney elevate the production with digital enhancements. The end result is a playful, campy exploration of prop performance and its intersection with modern video art, rooted in the creators’ personal space and made extraordinary through the use of AI.

URL: Instagram Post